Théophile Gautier 1854 - 1858

This photograph of Théophile Gautier was captured by Nadar, and it presents us with a man adorned with a distinctive headdress. This is not merely a cap; it is a turban-like head covering, immediately evoking a sense of the exotic and the oriental. Such headwear carries a rich history, harking back to the turbans of the Ottoman Empire and finding echoes in the artistic circles of Europe. Think of the Renaissance depictions of figures in oriental garb, or even the elaborate headwear of Persian miniatures. Over time, this motif has come to signify not only a connection to distant lands but also a certain artistic flair. Perhaps Gautier adopted it as a symbol of his own creative spirit. It is interesting how a piece of clothing can become a vessel of cultural memory, charged with connotations of otherness, wisdom, and even rebellion. We recognize the symbol of the 'wise man' or 'mystic' across cultures—resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.